Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-26
A TERRIBLE SECRET.

She was lying. and, although but 20
years If ac., appeared to be -. GaSpinS
for breath, rackeI by nervous tremors,
Gnd ValCr tlnn the sheets upon which she
lay, il seemed As if her wild and suuken
eyes already hcicld some f..;,hJtul vision.
Her sister. SaZHnne de Ihtreilcs, six
years her senior, knclt beside her. sobbing
bitterly. Upon little table, drawn close
to the side of the couch, a clean napkin
had been placed and two lighted tapers,
for they were awaiting the arrival Of the
priest, coming 10 give extreme unCtion
and the last communion.
The apartment had that sinister aspect,
that air Of dcSpairing adieuX, peC;:.Iac 20
the chambers nf the dying; vials OF medi-
cine stood about upon the furniture;
linens were heaped in the corners either
by the foot or the broom. anu the chairs,
disOUdcrcd and huddled in groups, seemed
As if alfrGht,i, and death was there, CON
Cealcd and waiting.
The history Of these sisters was very
sad and touching one. and talked Of far
and near through the neighbUrhOcd
Suzanne. the eldest, had been drvOtcdly
loved in her youth by younC man, hand
some and good, and to whom she also WIS
much attached. They were fianCees and
only waited the day liked by the contract
to marry, when suddenly Henri de sam
pierre was taken ill and died. The despair
OF the youu- girl was frightful. She
sworc that she would never marry. and
putting on the dress of the widowed,
which she never again left of, Mile. de
Therclles kept her word
one morning as she was sitting in her
room thinking sorrowfully Of the trouble
that had fallen upon her SO cruelty the
doom opened. and Marguerite at that time
not Yet - years Of age, threw herself into
her sisters arms, murmur;ng between
her sohS: DO not cry. Suzanne. Oh. do
not cry. II breaks my heart 10 see yUu
C-icvc. surely yuu will uot cry all your
lie, for II Will never leave Won, never,
Like yOu VIII never marry. Int remain
with you always
Suzanne embraced her tcuderly.
touched to The heart 10y the ch!ld's devo-
tiru Nevertheless, she dill not believe
her, the day would come TO Marguerite
that had come To her-She would love,
AMI then she would he alone again
suzanne. however, WAS mistaken, years
passed ON. and the little one held to her
word In spite 0f the prayers OF her pa
rents and the Supphcatlune ut her sister She
reSolUtely refused to marry. Beautiful,
charming and general fayorite among
the Young men II the uciLhbOrhOOd, moth
Ing Couli alter her dctisIuu-she would
never quit her sister
And thus they lived together side by
side in inseparahle cumpanionship. But
Marguerite WAS always sad more detected
and melancholy, if possible. than Suzanne
herself Ii seemed as if the sacrifice she
Lal made, sublime as it WAS, had literally
crushed hcr. She grew old faster than
her sister; her hair turned lis white rs
SHOW before she WAS 30. and. constantly
suffering. she seemed like one struck Ivy
some strange. disease which always proved
upon her.
NJw she was dying and dying first. In
twonty-f"ur hours she had spoken but
once and that only to ask for the cure.
bid him come she whispered
hoarsely, bid him come. and quickly
Suzanne bad obeyed. Lying upon her
back, her haggard features drawn by
fr.@htful spasms, her lips moviu. without
Ht:ering sound. her eyes fixed and
sun.cu, Marguerite de Thrrrlles WIS
hideOus to look upon. SuhbinE bitterly,
Sl.zauuc still knclt beside her.
Suddenly there was the noise "f foot
steps On the stairs, a moment later Il priest
in hi> surpliCe entered the room and
l"aTcL above the dying woman. As soon
aS she s&w hiGn she began To toss rest
lcesly about the bed.
"Goi pardon you. my child" sad the
old cure tcuderly: ''Gu1 pardon you and
give you peace, The hour has Cume-you
must speak,
Marguerite shudderod from head Il
foot as she heard the cures words. Again
and again she struggled To Obey. but her
voice broke and died away ia "a stiiIed
rattle
sit 10y me. suzanne. She whispered
at last; sit by me that you may hear and
listen
Suzanne, nstounde'l, rose 10 her feet
and seated herself beside her SISTER
God give them SIRE 9Th and ~,Hl Gpon
then. thy healing mercy" said the old
cure solemnly, lifting the hands Of thetwo
werIeu and holding them ill his own.
Then Marguerite began.
Pardon me, suzanne. she cried;
pardon your wretchcd siStGs Ah if YOU
could only know how have suffered how
| have dreaded this hour, dreaded it all
r:y life longI'
Pardon you, my little one" Suzanne
lepeated; but what am | 10 pardon you
tor? Have you not sacrificed Yourself for
met Have you not been an angel?'
''No, no. said Marguerite wildly, ''be
silent, l beg. | will tell you all 1t is
frightful. fri-htful. but do moi stop me